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Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Tunisia lauds Qatar's role in DRC talks
Tribune News Network Tunis Tunisia on Monday hailed the mediation, role, and sponsorship of the negotiations between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the March 23 Movement in Doha. According to a statement from the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tunisia expressed its satisfaction with the signing of the Declaration of Principles to begin direct negotiations between the two sides under Qatar's kind sponsorship and constructive efforts. The statement expressed Tunisia's hope that this agreement will lead to confidence-building measures between the two sides to end this protracted conflict in the DRC, preserving its unity and sovereignty and strengthening the foundations of security and stability throughout the African continent. Qatar hosted on Saturday in Doha the signing ceremony of the Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement. The signing of the declaration is the result of diplomatic efforts made by the State of Qatar over the past months, during which it worked to create a conducive environment for constructive dialogue between both parties, in preparation for reaching a peaceful solution to the protracted conflict in the region.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar facilitates breakthrough peace declaration in DR Congo
Khaled Al Hameidi Doha In a landmark diplomatic achievement, Qatar has helped broker a historic Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (M23), paving the way for a comprehensive peace deal aimed at ending more than three decades of violence in the eastern part of the country. The agreement, signed in Doha on Saturday, marked what many observers described as a turning point in the DRC's long-running conflict. It came after months of Qatari-led efforts that brought warring parties together for direct and indirect negotiations. The efforts culminated in a crucial meeting held in Qatar between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, under the auspices of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Speaking at a joint press conference following the signing ceremony, Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi emphasized that the declaration represents more than just a ceasefire, it sets the groundwork for a sustainable and just peace that meets the aspirations of the Congolese people for stability, dignity, and development. Al Khulaifi described the declaration as a milestone, noting that it goes beyond earlier frameworks by offering a clearer structure for implementation and more concrete political commitments. He credited the breakthrough to the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by both parties, praising President Tshisekedi and Bertrand Bisimwa, leader of the Congo River Alliance/M23, for their resolve in choosing dialogue over confrontation. 'This is not merely a suspension of violence,' Al Khulaifi said. 'This is a roadmap toward re-establishing governance, rebuilding lives, and giving the Congolese people a real opportunity for peace.' He reiterated that the State of Qatar played a central role in facilitating the dialogue that led to the agreement, expressing full confidence in the willingness of both sides to follow through on their commitments. Qatar, he confirmed, would continue to support the implementation phase, which is expected to begin immediately. Al Khulaifi also extended Qatar's gratitude to international and regional partners who played key roles in supporting the mediation process. He singled out the African Union, represented by its Chairperson Mahmoud Ali; the Republic of Togo; and the United States, whose Special Envoy to Africa, Massad Boulos, was closely involved in the negotiations. Additional thanks were given to Rwanda, the UK, France, and the Netherlands-based Dialogue Group for their technical and diplomatic support. 'This achievement embodies Qatar's belief in mediation as a powerful diplomatic tool,' Al Khulaifi added. 'We are proud to have provided a neutral and constructive platform that allowed peace to become possible.' Boulos, speaking on behalf of the US delegation, echoed that sentiment. He hailed the agreement as a definitive end to one of the world's longest-running and deadliest conflicts, pointing out that the violence had taken the lives of more than six million people and displaced over eight million others. The Doha Declaration, he said, was not only a diplomatic win, but a humanitarian imperative. 'This is a historic day for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,' Boulos declared. 'We now have a final peace agreement that offers no path back to war—only a way forward to reconciliation, development, and national unity.' He emphasized that what distinguishes the Doha Declaration from previous attempts is its actionable structure. The document includes a fixed timetable for the fulfillment of its provisions and addresses not only security matters but also the root causes of the conflict, such as marginalization, economic disparity, and contested territorial control. According to Boulos, it represents the first major African policy milestone of the current US administration. He concluded with a congratulatory message to the Congolese people, describing the agreement as 'a new dawn for a nation long denied peace despite its immense potential.'
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Innovation And National Product Branding Can Transform Agrifood Systems In Africa And Asia: FAO
Hanoi - Africa and Asia can learn from each other to use innovation and national product branding to transform agrifood systems, improving food, nutrition and livelihood security, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) told an Africa-Asia ministerial meeting here today. In the first such inter-continental dialogue, ministers and top-level agriculture policymakers from 14 countries in Africa, and three in Asia, met in the Vietnamese capital to discuss challenges and opportunities to making farming productive, resilient, sustainable and profitable for smallholders, the main agrifood producers. Agriculture ministers and senior officials from Bhutan, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tunisia, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe attended the 15-16 July 2025 High-Level Inter-regional Knowledge Exchange on One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Models. 'I am confident that this knowledge-sharing will highlight how innovation and national product branding can boost productivity, improve profitability, open new markets, and promote a better life for rural communities, as well as show how Asia's successes can inspire and support Africa's efforts, and vice versa,' FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in a video message to the event. Co-organized by FAO and the Government of Viet Nam, the event aimed to familiarize countries in Africa with Viet Nam's successful transformative national target program on new rural development through its "One Commune One Product". Viet Nam's Program 'has proven to be an effective tool for empowering rural communities and promoting ownership, accountability, and local cultural values for economic development and quality of life,' said Minister of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), Viet Nam Do Duc Duy in his opening remarks. Launched in 2018, the Vietnamese initiative leverages each locality's potential and advantages, fostering self-reliance and creativity in every citizen and community, to increase value and create distinctive, characteristic products unique to each locality, region, and area. Over 16,800 products rated 3 stars or higher, have been developed by the Vietnamese initiative, with millions of jobs created, and more than 60 percent participating households seeing an average annual revenue increase of 18 percent. 'We also see a clear alignment between Vietnam's One Commune One Product Program and FAO's One Country One Priority Product initiative - both aim to identify and promote strategic products of each locality and nation based on cultural respect, sustainability, and global market access,' the Minister added. Launched in 2021, the FAO One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) flagship initiative aims to catalyse agrifood systems transformation by promoting sustainable value chains of nutritious, but underutilized, special agricultural products with unique geographical and cultural traits. Agriculture ministers from Africa joined their Asian counterparts to share national experiences in OCOP implementation. Producing more food with less inputs, making agriculture climate-resilient, sustainable and profitable for all, is critical for Africa and Asia and the Pacific, the regions with the world's highest levels of hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The OCOP initiative helped Malawi save its banana industry, a key economic pillar, from a virus infestation. This was 'not merely a production issue, it was a threat to livelihoods, nutrition, foreign exchange, and our agricultural identity. OCOP gave us more than a solution, it gave us a roadmap to recovery and inclusive development,' Samuel Dalitso Kawale, Minister of Agriculture Malawi told the event. 'We seek deeper collaboration and knowledge exchange with Viet Nam and other OCOP countries.' Egypt selected date palm as its priority OCOP product reflecting 'our deep belief in its strategic importance—not just as a traditional agricultural pillar, but as a promising source of economic development, job creation, and value-added agricultural exports,' Ezzeldin Gadallahm Head of Central Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt told the event. The OCOP Four Betters Models The delegates from Africa were also briefed on how FAO is leveraging science and innovation to accelerate agrifood systems transformation through OCOP implementation in the Asia-Pacific region, in support of the FAO Four Betters vision – better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life, leaving no one behind. Strategic partnerships with leading science and innovation centres in the region are enhancing value chains of special agricultural products (SAPs). This includes the application of an innovative geographical and environmental traceability tool to enhance SAP value chains, increase access to high-end markets and incentivize sustainable production. Nutrition science and technology is helping develop SAP-based food products suited to diverse age groups and tastes while a market intelligence series is helping Asia-Pacific countries integrate SAPs into mainstream international markets.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu to inaugurate summit on green hydrogen at SRM University-AP on July 18
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the Green Hydrogen Summit-2025 at SRM University-AP campus on July 18. The inaugural session of the two-day event will be attended by Member of NITI Aayog V.K. Saraswat, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, State Minister for Energy Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh, K. Vijayanand, and Pro-Chancellor of SRM University-AP P. Satyanarayana. The summit is being organised by the university, in association with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, IIT-Tirupati, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tirupati, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP), and SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu. Dr. Saraswat would deliver the keynote address on 'Vision for Green Hydrogen in India's Energy Landscape', informed Executive Director-Research, SRM Group, D. Narayana Rao, at a press conference in Vijayawada on Tuesday. He said various industry leaders and academicians, including Director of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune, Ashish Lele, Director of International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) R. Vijay, president of Hydrogen Association of India R.K. Malhotra, Chief Project Manager of Hydrogen Trainset, Ministry of Railways, Amit Saran, and Sujit Pillai from National Hydrogen Mission, Ministry of Non-Renewable Energy, would speak at the sessions. Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, NREDCAP, K. Kamalakar Babu, said several leading industrialists engaged in hydrogen and renewable energies, such as SUZLON, ACME, NTPC, BPCL, KPI Green Hydrogen, and Yamna Industries Ltd., would be part of the summit. The summit would focus on research and development, innovation, commercialisation, and alignment with the National Hydrogen Mission, and discuss the policy framework and incentives to support hydrogen projects. The participants would also explore innovations, challenges, and prospects in green hydrogen production, storage, and applications by assembling industry, academia, and research leaders to advance India's green hydrogen goals.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Stakeholders want State as a unit, not district, for implementation of free bus ride for women in Andhra Pradesh
As the Government of Andhra Pradesh prepares to launch another Super Six scheme of free bus travel for women in the State on August 15, deliberations are in progress over the exact mode of implementation. While Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has indicated that the district will be considered as a unit for implementing the scheme, key stakeholders, including officials of the A.P. State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), have expressed concern over the feasibility of the model. According to sources in the Transport Department, implementation of the scheme at the district level may lead to operational difficulties, besides complications in route monitoring and enforcement of eligibility across inter-district services. A more unified State-wide implementation, the officials feel, will ensure smoother coordination and reduce the risk of misuse, or logistical bottlenecks. 'Restriction on travel within districts will lead to confusion for women who need to travel across district borders. A uniform policy at the State level will be more inclusive and manageable,' says a senior APSRTC official. 'A final call on the issue will be taken after the Chief Minister returns from Delhi,' says Transport Minister M. Ramprasad Reddy. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said the government was in the process of procuring 2,000 new buses to augment the existing fleet and support the anticipated surge in passengers once the scheme was launched. 'While the buses may not arrive in time for the rollout, they will be inducted into the fleet in a phased manner,' the Minister said. Currently, women commuters comprise 35% of the Occupancy Ratio (OR) in the APSRTC buses as against 65% men. 'After rolling out the scheme, the number of women passengers may rise to 65% of the OR,' said the Minister. From a financial standpoint, the Minister said it would be an annual expenditure of ₹2,000 crore, which was significantly lower than other schemes under the government's Super Six promises. Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said the new buses would be operated under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, a framework where private operators supply and maintain buses, while the APSRTC would manage operations and collect revenue. Union fears loss of jobs However, the GCC model is being opposed by the A.P. Public Transport Department Employees' Unions, whihc fear losing jobs in the future. They have been insisting that the APSRTC operate and maintain the new buses proposed to be included in the fleet. 'Already, 25% of the buses in the fleet are being operated by private firms. This is a growing concern among the workers in the public transport organisation,' said union State president P. Damodar Rao. He said the existing 11,500 buses in the fleet and 46,000 staff were needed to be augmented before the launch of the scheme. 'The corporation already relies on over 5,000 on-call drivers for its day-to-day operations,' he said, indicating the extent of staff crunch.
